Explosive-engine.



PATENTED SEPT. 27, 1904.

H. SUHNLEIN. EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00124, 1899 N0 MODEL B Q E M m H. n s. v

No. waste.

Patented. September 2?, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

HEINRICH SOHNLEIN, OF VVIESBADEN, GERMANY.

EXPLOSlVE-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,872, dated Septemb r 27, 1904.

Application filed October 4, 189 9.

1'0 aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HEINRICH SoHNLEIN, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at IViesbaden, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Explosive-Engines; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to that type of engine in which a volatilizable or vaporizable combustible liquid, such as a liquid hydrocarbon, is used as a motive fluid and in which the hydrocarbon vapor is mixed with a suflicient quantity of air to form an explosive compound, such motors being commonly known as explosion-engines.

My invention has for its object the provision of means whereby the volatilization or vaporization of the combustible liquid is very materially enhanced and in means whereby a more intimate admixture of the air and vapor is obtained and whereby the non-absorbed or uncombined vapors are eliminated from the explosive compound.

The invention has for its further object the provision of means whereby injurious effects due to the premature explosion of charges admitted to the combustion or explosion chamber of the power cylinder are practically avoided and in the provision of means for automatically controlling the speed of the engine.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a horizontal engine of the type referred to embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a preferred form of a receiver for the explosive charges.

Referring to Fig. 1, the power-cylinder G is provided with a crank-casing C, the piston P dividing said cylinder into a combustion or explosion chamber 0 and into a suction or forcing chamber 0', which latter has a tubular Serial No. 732,514. (No model.)

valve V, controlled by a governor G in any well-known manner and for purposes hereinafter to be described, said governor being driven from the power-shaft S by Well-known means. On the inner end of the power-cylinder C is arranged a reservoir A to be partly filled with a liquid hydrocarbon, said reservoir being in perpetual communication with the suction and forcing chamber 0 through a pipe P, and for purposes hereinafter explained I interpose in said connection a receiver R, shown in Fig. 1 as of a substantially spherical form, said receiver being in direct communication with the reservoir A and through a by-pass r with the inlet-port p'of the power-cylinder C. The reservoir A has a branch at, in which is arranged a spring-seated check-valve 1;, opening inwardly, and from the by-pass 9" leads a pipe P to a valve-casing, in which is arranged a spring-seated valve o, controlling aport 10 at the inner end of the power.- cylinder C. The check-valveso and o areheld to their seats by springs, the tension of which can be regulated in a well-known manner by means of a nut on the outer screw-threaded end of the stem of each valve, against which nut one end of the coiled spring mounted on the stem has bearing. The power cylinder C is provided at a point substantially opposite the inlet-port p with an exhaust-port p and forward of and at a suitable distance from said exhaust-port said cylinder is provided with an air-inlet port 19 for purposes presently explained. The piston P is of a well-known type, open at its outer end and having formed on its head a deflecting-ledge l to deflect the inflowing charge of explosive fluid toward the inner end of the powers cylinder C, and said piston P is connected in the usual manner by a connectingrod B with the crank s on the power -shaft S, which latter revolves in fluid-tight bearings in the crank-casing and may carry one or two fly-wheels. (Not shown.)

The engine as described is organized to operate'as a two-cycle motor, as follows: In Fig. 1 the piston P is shown at the limit of its out or power stroke, a charge of explosive fluid flowing into the explosion-chamber extension 0 in which is arranged a throttlei from reservoir A through 1' p and through branch pipe P and port p, valve Q) being then unseated by the pressure created in the suction and forcing chamber 0', receiver R, and reservoir A, valve 1) being held to its seat by said pressure, while the products of combustion of the previously-exploded charge are exhausted through port 12 such exhaust being accelerated by the inflowing charge. On the instroke and as soon as the piston P has covered exhaust-port p and inlet-port 19 the compression begins, valve 0 closing port p, and at or about the completion of said instroke the charge of explosive compound is ignited in any well known manner, either electrically or by means of a hot tube, the piston then making its outstroke under the pressure of the gases of explosion. During the described instroke a partial vacuum is set up in crank-casing C, receiver R, and reservoir A, thereby unseating valve 2; to admit to said reservoir A a portion of the air necessary to formthe explosive compound for the next charge. As is well-known, the volatilization or vaporization of liquids in mono takes place more rapidly than in the open air, so that the volume of air admitted to reservoir A becomes more or less saturated with hydrocarbon, the mixture or compound being drawn into the receiver R, wherein it expands, thereby affording an opportunity to the air of absorbing or taking up the hydrocarbon vapor. This receiver R is of such capacity as to hold the mixture, which is thus absolutely prevented from being drawn into the suction and forcing chamber 0 during the instroke of the piston P; but before said piston P completes its instroke the air-inlet port 19 is uncovered, thereby admitting to the chamber a the complementary volume of air necessary to form a readily-ignitable explosive compound. As the piston P makes its outstroke and as soon asair-port p is closed the complementary air in chamber 0 is forced into the receiver R, containing the more or less saturated air, and under the pressure set up in chamber 0 and receiver R, connected with said chamber by pipe P, the charge in said receiver is forced back into reservoir A, wherein the air and hydrocarbon vapor are, so to speak, kneaded together under the pressure to form an intimate admixture, while uncombined orunabsorbed vapors are condensed and separated from the gaseous compound which is drawn into the explosionchamber 0, to be therein compressed on .the instroke of the piston and exploded, as above set forth, andso on.

As is well known, the percentage of air to be combined with a hydrocarbon vapor depends upon the nature or character of the liquid'hydrocarbon used. By regulating the tension of'the spring which holds valve '0 to its seat the volume of air admitted to reservoir A can be controlled or regulated, the

valve opening under a partial vacuum more readily under a given. tension of the spring and less readily when the tension thereof is increased.

It will be observed that the reservoir A is, in fact, a carbureter and also performs the function of a compression-chamber in which the vaporization of the liquid hydrocarbon is effected under the action of a partial vacuum in presence of air, which latter is caused to flow over the surface of the liquid, and thus becomes practically saturated with hydrocarbon vapor, and such a compound is not readily ignitable. By adding to this compound a further quantity of air under pressure an intimate admixture of the latter with the hydrocarbon vapor is effected and uncombined or unabsorbed hydrocarbon vapors are condensed and separated from the gaseous compound. It will also be observed that when the explosive compound under high pressure is allowed to expand into the explosion-chamber 0 of the power-cylinder and is therein compressed, a further and more intimate admixture takes place, resulting in a charge that is readily ignitable, so that the liability of non-explosion and consequent waste of motive fluid is minimized, if not absolutely prevented.

For the purpose of regulating the speed of the engine I provide the throttle-valve V, controlled by the governor G, which valve as soon as the speed of the engine exceeds the normal speed begins to open, whereby the suction and forcing action of the pump is gradually reduced, so that a smaller quantity of hydrocarbon is evaporated in reservoir A and smaller or lesspowerful charges of explosive mixture admitted to the power-cylinder, the speed of the engine being thus gradually reduced until it has again assumed its normal speed, when the throttle-valve V will again close the passage in branch 0, the engine operating with charges the volume of which is automatically varied and corresponds with the work performed.

There exists a well-known inconvenience in explosion-engines especially when feeble, that is to say slow-burning, charges are used, in that a charge of explosive compound may be but partially consumed at the time a fresh charge is admitted to the power-cylinder. This has for its result a premature ignition of the inflowing charge, which produces a strong back pressure, and especially when explosive mixture accumulated in the pump-chamber 0 is ignited by back firing. This I effectually avoid by interposing the receiverR in the connection between the reservoir or carbureter A and the pump-chamber c, the capacity of said receiver being so chosen that it will hold all the air drawn in through valve 0) and the vapors evolved from the hydrocarbon by the action of a vacuum on the instroke of the piston. Obviously the receiver R performs two functionsthat of a mixing-chamber and that of an auxiliary suction and forcing chamber for the pump. On the other hand, the re ceiver is practically emptied of hydrocarbon vapor atthe next outstroke of said piston by the pressure resulting therefrom. At the same time an additional quantity of air is forced into the receiver R and mixed with its contents under pressure, said contents being forced back into reservoir A for purposes stated.

With a viewto facilitating the flow of explosive mixture from the receiver I prefer to give it the form shown in Fig. 2, wherein the receiver R has the form of a double cone whose walls are curvilinear and converge from a base line to form a tubular inlet and outlet, respectively.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An explosion-engine comprising a cylinder having an explosion-chamber provided with inlet and exhaust ports and a pump-chamber, a receiver communicating with the explosion-chamber and with the pump-chamber, a source of explosive-fluid supply and a piston cooperating with said cylinder to draw explosive fluid to the receiver during the instroke of said piston, to compress s'aid fluid on the outstroke and to admit explosive fluid to the combustion-chamber at or about the completion of the outstroke of the piston, for the purpose set forth.

2. An explosion-engine comprising a cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a source of explosive fluid supply in communication with the atmosphere, an inwardly-opening valve in said communication, a receiver in communication with the source of explosivefluid supply, a communication between the receiver and explosion-chamber of the cylinder, a communication between the receiver and the pump-chamber of said cylinder and a piston cooperating with the aforesaid ports to control said communication and to cut off the receiver from said explosion-chamber during its instroke and open said communication at or about the completion of its outstroke, to produce a partial vacuum in the receiver, to draw air into the latter and to draw air through the explosive fluid into the receiver during its instroke and to compress the explosive fluid so obtained in the receiver during its outstroke, for the purpose set forth.

8. An explosion-engine, comprisingacylinder, its piston dividing the same into explosion and pumping chambers, a source of explosive-fluid supply and a receiver in perpetual communication with said source of supply and with the pumping-chamber of said cylinder, and piston-controlled admission and exhaust ports in communication with the receiver and the atmosphere respectively, said parts organized to cause a charge of explosive fluid to flow from said source of supply to and expand in the receiver on the instroke of the piston, to compress said charge and admit it to the explosion-chamber at or about at the completion of the outstroke of the piston and simultaneously uncover the exhaust port, whereby the inflowing compressed charge of explosive fluid expanding into the explosionchamber serves to drive out the products of combustion and is again compressed on the next instroke of the piston before ignition, for the purpose set forth.

4. The combinationwith an explosion-engine, a hydrocarbon-reservoir, a receiver in communication therewith, and a passage leading from the reservoir above the normal level of the liquid therein to a piston-controlled port'in the engine-cylinder; of means for supplying a'ir to the reservoir to form an explosive compound, a pump and a pipe connecting the forcing-port of said pump with the receiver, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination with an explosion-engine, and a hydrocarbon-reservoir; of a pump whose forcing-port is in perpetual communication with said reservoir at a point above the level of the liquid therein, a port or passage leading from a like point of the reservoir to a piston-controlled port in the power-cylinder, and means for supplying air to said reservoir during the suction period of the pump and means for supplying an additional volume of air to said reservoir during the forcing period of the pump, whereby the explosive compound producedunder a partial vacuum is compressed during the forcing period of said pump within the reservoir and subsequently allowed to expand into the explosion-chamber of the engine to be there again compressed by the piston before ignition, for the purpose set forth.

6. In an explosion-engine, the combination with the power-cylinder provided with piston and valve-controlled admission-ports opening into the explosion-chamber at opposite ends thereof, a hydrocarbon-reservoir, means connecting the latter at a point above the level of the liquid therein with the aforesaid ports, and a valved admission-port leading into said reservoir above the level of the liquid therein; of a pump whose suction and forcing chamber is in perpetual communication with said reservoir at a point above the level of the liquid therein for the purpose set forth.

7. In an explosion-engine, the combination with the power-cylinder provided with a piston-controlled admission-port, a hydrocarbonreservoir, and means connecting the latter at a point above the level of the liquid therein with said port; of a receiver in perpetual communication with the reservoir at a point above the level of the liquid therein, a pump whose suction and forcing chamber is in perpetual communication with said receiver, and means for admitting air during the suction period of the pump to said reservoir, for the purposes set forth.

8. In an explosion-engine, the combination with the power-cylinder, ahydrocarbon-reservoir and means connecting the same at a point above the level of the liquid therein with the admission-port in said power-cylinder; of a pump whose suction and forcing chamber is in perpetual communication with the said reservoir at a point above the level of the liquid therein, said chamber provided with a passage open to the atmosphere, and a governor-controlled valve in said passage, for the purpose set forth. I

9. In an explosion-engine, the combination with the power-cylinder closed at both ends, the piston dividing said cylinder into an explosion and a pump chamber, said piston performing the function of a pump-plunger also, the power-shaft revolving fluid-tight in bearings in said pump-chamber, and a connectingrod between the piston and a crank on said power-shaft; of a hydrocarbon-reservoir, a valve-controlled air-admission passage opening into said reservoir at a point above the level of the liquid therein, and conduit connecting said reservoir, at a point above the level of the liquid therein, with the pumpchamber and the admission-port of the powercylinder, respectively, for the purpose set forth.

10. In an explosion-engine, the combination with the power-cylinder closed at both ends, the piston dividing said cylinder into an explosion and a pump chamber, said piston performing the function of pump-plunger also, the power-shaft revolving in fluid-tight bearings in said pump-chamber, and a connectingrod between the piston and a crank on said power-shaft; of a hydrocarbon-reservoir, a valve-controlled air-admission passage opening into said reservoir at a point above the level of the liquid therein, a receiver, and a conduit in communication with the reservoir at points above the level of, the liquid therein, said conduit leadingto the admission-port of the power-cylinder, and a pipe connecting the receiver with the pump-chamber, for the purpose set forth.

11. In an explosion-engine, the combination with the power-cylinder closed at both ends, the piston dividing said cylinder into an explosion and a pump chamber, said piston performing the function of pump-plunger also, the power-shaft revolving fluid-tight in bearings in said pump-chamber and a connectingrod between the piston and a crank on said power-shaft; of a hydrocarbon-reservoir, a

valve-controlled air-admission passageopen ing into said reservoir at a point above the level of the liquid therein, and conduits connecting said reservoir at a point above the level of the liquid therein with the pumpchamber and the admission-port of the powercylinder, respectively, for the purposes set forth.

12. In an explosion-engine, the combination with the power-cylinder, closed at both ends, the piston dividing said cylinder into an explosion and a pump chamber, said piston performing also the function of pump-plunger, and said cylinder provided with a valve and a piston-controlled admission-port located at opposite ends of the explosion-chamber, and with a piston-controlled exhaust-port at the outer end of the explosion-chamber diametrically opposite the piston-controlled admissionport, the power-shaft revoluble in fluid-tight bearings in the pump-chamber and a rod connection between the piston and crank on said power-shaft; of a hydrocarbon-reservoir, means for connecting the aforesaid admissionports with said reservoir above the level of the liquid therein, a receiver likewise connected with the reservoir at a point above the level of the liquid therein,- and a pipe connecting the reservoir with the pump-chamber, substantially as and for the purposes'set forth.

13. In an explosion-engine, the combination -with the power-cylinder closed at both ends,

the piston dividing said cylinder into an explosion and a pump chamber, said piston performing also the function of pump-plunger, and said cylinder provided with a valve and a piston-controlled admission-port located at opposite ends of the explosion-chamber and with piston-controlled exhaust and air-inlet ports located at the outer end of the explosionchamber and at the inner end of the pumpchamber respectively, the power-shaft revoluble in fluid-tight bearings in the pumpchamber, and a rod connection between the piston and crank on said power-shaft; of a hydrocarbon-reservoir, means for connecting the aforesaid admission-ports with said reservoir above the level of the liquid therein, a receiver likewise connected with the reservoir at a point above the level of the liquid therein, and a pipe connecting the receiver with the pump-chamber, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HEINRICH SOHNLEIN.

Witnesses:

HUGO THANISCH, WALTER HAUsINe. 

